Safety rail

ABSTRACT

A safety rail system for protection of workers at construction sites. The system uses removable posts secured to joists supporting balconies, decking and the like. The safety rail system can be installed and removed using standard tools. The system uses standard rails, removably secured to the posts which are preconfigured to meet existing code regulations. The improved rail system reduces undesired deconstruction of the safety rail system, but allows for ease of removal and replacement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to a safety rail and, moreparticularly to a temporary safety rail system used during construction.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known in the art to construct temporary safety rails on balconies,decks and the like to prevent workers from falling. Occupational Safetyand Health Administration codes often require the use of safety railingduring construction to protect workers. In many situations, temporaryrailing may be built and then later torn down when the permanent rail isto be installed. One drawback associated with such prior art temporaryrailing is the time and cost associated with constructing and removingthe railing. This time and cost becomes a significant factor insituations where materials must be loaded and unloaded, requiring therailing to be constructed and removed several times during theconstruction process.

Another drawback associated with such prior art systems is the damagesuch temporary railing systems may inflict on decorative deck floors andthe like. Yet another drawback associated with prior art temporaryrailing systems is that they are typically constructed of standardbuilding materials, sometimes depleting supplies required for otherportions of the construction. Another drawback associated with usingstandard building materials is that workers are often tempted to removeportions of the temporary railing system to use the constructionmaterials in other parts of the construction.

Still another drawback associated with such temporary railings is theinconsistency in construction methods and materials used. As many codesrequire specific specifications for such temporary railings, additionaltime must be taken to insure compliance to avoid the risk of danger toconstruction workers and/or serious fines. It would, therefore, bedesirable to provide a temporary railing system which may be easilyinstalled and removed, and which meets code requirements for temporaryrailings.

The difficulties encountered in the prior art discussed hereinabove aresubstantially eliminated by the present improved safety rail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an advantage provided by this improved safety rail, an inexpensive,durable system for constructing a safety rail at construction sites isprovided.

Advantageously, this improved safety rail system provides a reusablesafety rail system which may be quickly constructed and removed asdesired.

Advantageously, this improved safety rail system provides a safety railof consistent dimensions which may be used with a plurality ofconstruction designs.

Advantageously, this improved safety rail system provides a safety railwhich is of a strong and lightweight construction.

Advantageously, this improved safety rail system provides a safety railwhich frustrates the undesired scavenging of the safety rail for otherconstruction projects.

Advantageously, this improved safety rail system provides a safety railwhich may be quickly and easily installed and removed using standardtools.

Advantageously, this improved safety rail system provides a safety railwhich is adjustable to accommodate various types of constructionprojects.

Advantageously, this improved safety rail system provides a safety railwhich is of a low-maintenance, long-lasting design.

Advantageously, in a preferred example of this improved safety railsystem, posts are provided with leg plates which straddle joistsassociated with a balcony or deck under construction. The posts haverail retainers which accommodate standard construction materials for useas rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the post of the improved safetyrail system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the improved safety rail systeminstalled at a construction site;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the anchor of the improvedsafety rail system, secured to a joist and rim joist;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the improved safety rail systemin partial phantom; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the improved safety rail systemsecured to a narrow joist.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, a safety rail post is shown generally as (10)in FIG. 1. The post includes a hollow steel bar (12), having sidesapproximately 7.5 centimeters in length. The bar (12) is preferablybetween 0.5 and 2.0 centimeters in length, more preferably between 1.0and 1.5 centimeters in length, and most preferably approximately 115.0centimeters in length. Welded to the bar (12) are a first rail retainer(14), a second rail retainer (16), and a third rail retainer (17). Therail retainers (14), (16) and (17) are preferably constructed of flatsteel and are welded or otherwise secured to the bar (12). The railretainers (14), (16) and (17) form slots (18), (20) and (21)approximately 4.5 centimeters wide and approximately 10.0 centimetershigh. While the slots (18), (20) and (21) may be of any suitabledimension to accommodate rails (22), (24) and (25) of any suitabledimension, the slots (18), (20) and (21) are preferably designed toaccommodate a standard “2×4” rail (22). (FIGS. 1 and 2). The railretainers (14), (16) and (17) are each preferably provided with twoholes (26), (28), (30), (32), (33) and (35) to accommodate screws (34),(36), (38), (40), (41) and (43) to secure the rails (22), (24) and (25)within the slots (18), (20) and (21). The screws (34), (36), (38), (40),(41) and (43) may be of any suitable type known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bar (12) is welded or otherwise secured to afootplate (42) which is a steel plate having a width of approximately7.6 centimeters and a length of approximately 20.0 centimeters. Thefootplate (42) is welded approximately 1.9 centimeters below the thirdrail retainer (17) to accommodate a standard piece of decking plywood(45) therebetween. The footplate (42) forms a bridge between a first legplate (44) and a second leg plate (46) welded thereto. Alternatively,the leg plates (44) and (46) may be welded directly to the bar (12). Theleg plates (44) and (46) are preferably 15.2 centimeters wide and 30.4centimeters long. The leg plates (44) and (46) are welded or otherwisesecured to the footplate (42) flush with one end (48) of the footplate(42) to create a lip (48) cantilevered beyond the leg plates (44) and(46) approximately 5.0 centimeters. Alternatively, a lip (48) may bewelded directly to the bar (12).

As shown in FIG. 1, the leg plates (44) and (46) are provided with threesets of holes (50), (52) and (54). The sets of holes (50), (52) and (54)are preferably provided toward the sides of the leg plates (44) and (46)opposite the lip (48). The first set of holes (50) is preferablyprovided with the top of the first hole (56) 17.8 centimeters from thefootplate (42), and the top of the second hole (58) 18.4 centimetersfrom the footplate (42). For the second set of holes (52) the top of thefirst hole (60) is preferably 22.9 centimeters below the footplate (42)and the top of the second hole (62) is preferably 23.5 centimeters belowthe footplate (42). For the third set of holes (54), the top of thefirst hole (64) is preferably 27.9 centimeters below the footplate (42)and the top of the second hole (66) is preferably 28.6 centimeters belowthe footplate (42). As shown, the holes (56) and (58), (60) and (62),and (64) and (66) are preferably slightly offset from one another toprevent proximity of the holes (56), (58), (60), (62), (64) and (66)weakening the leg plates (44) and (46).

As shown in FIG. 3, when it is desired to utilize the post (10) of thepresent invention, the leg plates (44) and (46) are provided around adecking joist (68). A bolt and nut assembly (70) is then secured throughthe holes (66) in the leg plates (44) and (46) and secured thereto.Preferably, the bolt and nut assembly (70) is tightened to squeeze theleg plates (44) and (46) against the decking joist (68).

As shown, the leg plates (44) and (46) are also provided with a centerhole (72). Preferably, a hole is drilled through the decking joist (68)at a point aligned with the center hole (72) to allow a bolt and nutassembly (74) to be secured through the center hole (72). The bolt andnut assembly (74) is then tightened to further secure the leg plates(44) and (46) to the joist (68).

As shown in FIG. 3, once the leg plates (44) and (46) are secured to thedecking joist (68), the lip (48) extends over the rim joist (76) tofurther support the post (10). Once the post (10) has been secured, asecond post (78) is secured to a second joist (80) in a similar manner.While FIG. 4 shows the post (10) and (78) secured to adjacent joists(68) and (80), in the preferred embodiment, the posts (10) and (78) aresecured to joists at intervals mandated by code requirements.

Once the posts (10) and (78) have been secured, the rail (22) ispositioned between the first rail retainer (14) and the rail retainer(82) of the second post (78). The rail (22) is then secured to the posts(10) and (78) by screws (34), (36), (84) and (86). The holes (26) and(28) of the rail retainer (14) are preferably offset slightly to reducefatigue. Once the rail (22) has been secured, the second rail (24) issecured to the second rail retainer (16) of the first post (10), andrail retainer (88) of the second post (78), and the third rail (25) issecured to the third rail retainer (17) of the first post (10) and railretainer (89) of the second post (78), in a similar manner. Obviously,rails (22), (24) and (25) of any suitable dimensions and length may besecured using any desired number of posts (10) and (78). When it isdesired to move the safety railing system (90) of the present invention,the rails (22), (24) and (25) are unscrewed from the rail retainers(14), (16), (17), (82), (88) and (89) and removed. Thereafter, the posts(10) and (78) are unbolted from the joists (68) and (80). The posts (10)and (78) may be reattached, as would be the case if material was to beloaded on to the deck at the point of the safety railing system (90), ormay be moved to another location for construction of the safety railingsystem (90).

As shown in FIG. 5, if it is desired to secure the post (10) midwayalong a joist (92), the leg plates (44) and (46) may simply be placedaround the joist (92) and secured thereto utilizing the bolt and nutassembly (70). As shown, the joist (92) is narrower than in thepreferred embodiment. In this instance, the upper holes (56) may be usedto secure the nut and bolt assembly (70) to prevent undesired movementof the post (10) relative to the joist (92). As there is no rim joistavailable in this application, the lip (48) extends outward along thejoist (92) to provide support against deviation of the post (10) from anorientation normal to the joist (10). The spacing of the sets of holes(50), (52) and (54) accommodate variations in lumber dimensions so thatthe post (10) may be used with any desired standard joist dimension. Ofcourse, the leg plates (44) and (46) may be provided with holes of anyconfiguration to allow the post (10) to be secured to joists ofnon-traditional dimensions.

Although the improved safety rail system has been described with respectto the preferred embodiment thereof, it is also to be understood that itis not to be so limited, since changes and modifications can be madetherein which are within the full, intended scope of the improved safetyrail system as defined by the appended claims. For example, the bar (12)may be of any desired height or dimension, or may be constructed of anysuitable material designed to meet code or construction requirements.Furthermore, it is anticipated that any number and design of rails maybe used.

1. A safety rail system comprising: (a) a first support comprising: (i)a first joist support; (ii) first means for fastening said first joistsupport to a first joist; (iii) a first shaft coupled to said firstjoist support; and (iv) a first rail retainer coupled to said firstshaft. (b) a second support comprising: (i) a second joist support; (ii)second means for fastening said second joist support to a second joist;(iii) a second shaft coupled to said second joist support; and (iv) asecond rail retainer coupled to said second shaft. (c) a rail coupled tosaid first rail retainer and to said second rail retainer.
 2. The safetyrail system of claim 1, further comprising a cantilevered lip support.3. The safety rail system of claim 2, wherein said first fastening meanscomprises means for compressing said first joist support and said thirdjoist support against said first joist.
 4. The safety rail system ofclaim 3, wherein said first fastening means comprises a bolt coupledbetween said first joist support and said third joist support.
 5. Thesafety rail system of claim 4, wherein a shank of said bolt is securedbelow said first joist.
 6. The safety rail system of claim 1, whereinsaid first shaft is less than two meters in length.
 7. The safety railsystem of claim 1, further comprising means for fastening said rail tosaid rail retainer.
 8. The safety rail system of claim 3, furthercomprising a bridge coupling said first joist support and said thirdjoist support.
 9. The safety rail system of claim 8, further comprisinga cantilevered lip support coupled to said bridge.
 10. A safety railpost comprising: (a) a shaft at least one meter in length; (b) a firstplate at least four centimeters long coupled to said shaft; (c) a secondplate at least four centimeters long coupled to said shaft; (d) whereinsaid first plate and said second plate are positioned substantiallyparallel to one another at least one centimeter apart; and (e) means forreleasably securing said first plate to said second plate.
 11. Thesafety rail post of claim 10, further comprising a cantilevered lipsupport coupled to said shaft wherein said cantilevered lip support isat least one centimeter long.
 12. The safety rail post of claim 11,wherein said cantilevered lip support is positioned substantiallyperpendicular to said shaft and substantially perpendicular to saidfirst plate.
 13. The safety rail post of claim 10, further comprisingmeans for moving said first plate toward said second plate.
 14. Thesafety rail post of claim 10, wherein said shaft is less than two metersin length.
 15. The safety rail post of claim 10, further comprising afirst rail retainer coupled to said shaft.
 16. The safety rail post ofclaim 15, further comprising a second rail retainer coupled to saidshaft.
 17. The safety rail post of claim 16, further comprising a firstrail coupled to said first rail retainer and a second rail coupled tosaid second rail retainer.
 18. A safety rail post comprising: (a) ashaft between one and two meters in length; (b) a first plate coupled tosaid shaft, wherein said first plate is at least four centimeters inlength; (c) a second plate coupled to said shaft, wherein said secondplate is at least four centimeters in length; (d) wherein said firstplate is located substantially parallel to said second plate, betweentwo and eight centimeters from said second plate; (e) means for biasingsaid first plate toward said second plate; and (f) a rail releasablysecured to said shaft.
 19. The safety rail post of claim 18, furthercomprising a cantilevered lip support coupled to said shaft, whereinsaid cantilevered lip support is at least one centimeter long, andwherein said cantilevered lip support is positioned substantiallyperpendicular to said shaft and substantially perpendicular to saidfirst plate.
 20. The safety rail post of claim 19, further comprising:(a) a joist secured between said first plate and said second plate; and(b) a rim joist secured perpendicular to said joist in contact with saidcantilevered lip support.